Stephen Thompson is hoping to run things back with Jorge Masvidal next time out.
Both Thompson and Masvidal are on two and three-fight losing streaks, respectively. In those fights, âWonderboyâ was outwrestled by Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad, while Masvidal lost twice to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and was then outwrestled by Colby Covington his last time out. With that, Thompson is hoping the Masvidal rematch happens as he wants to face a striker next time out.
âI would like to fight in May, we will see though. I had some names thrown at me like Robbie Lawler and now Masvidal came off the loss so that would be a fun rematch,â Thompson said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. âThe NMF vs. the BMF, so yeah man those are the kind of the guys Iâm looking at. Give me a striker for my next fight. Donât give me a wrestler, and the wrestlers are just a different pedigree. Iâve fought wrestlers in the past but now they are on a different level.â
Although Thompson still has the goal of being a UFC champion, Wonderboy admits his past two fights have disappointed him. He says the fights have been boring so he is focused on wanting to fight a striker next time out, which is why heâs interested in the Masvidal rematch.
âItâs not fun fights and the fans donât like it when guys just hold you down and not really improve anything,â Thompson explained. âWith the Burns fight, he just held me there, he was hitting me with a few shots but nothing hurt. I want to get back into some exciting fights, letâs make a standup fight happen. Give me Masvidal, heâs on a losing streak as well so letâs make that happenâŠ
âWe have been facing off with some wrestlers and they have been holding us down. So, letâs get two guys that want to stand up and throw hands,â Thompson later added. âWe fought in the past but we both have made changes and are both coming off losses, so letâs put us together and give the fans what they want.â
Whether or not the UFC would want the Stephen Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal rematch is uncertain. But, Wonderboy knows the fan interest is there and it can help boost any pay-per-view coming up in the near future.
âIâve had a lot of fans tell me they want that fight. After UFC 272, people have told me I have to fight Masvidal again. They could put us as a co-main on a pay-per-view and it would do quite well. People would be excited about it,â Thompson concluded.
Good fight.
Would rather see Diaz Masvidal 2 but Iâd watch
Eh I rather see a more exciting fight that can bring in more hype.
How old is Wonderman?
Still talking titles but in all this time he hasnât developed enough defence to stay standing and claims wrestlers are just too hard nowâŠ
As a TMA guy, i love this fight but can understand why Gamebred wouldnât want this fight.
Thats a fight night main eventâŠMas has one more PPV main event in him
Vs Nate or Conor
Not many ways to go with Jorge rn outside of doing him vs Conor. He needs a W to keep his hype train going.
Who would you match him up with? Nate doesnât interest me at all.
This fight makes sense
Iâd watch. Tapology and the ufc both have Mas ranked one spot below Thompson. People speak of Mas and Nate but that will always be there no matter the losing streaks. Want Nate to fight Dustin or Conor
Yea I cant think of another match up honestly
THIS GUYS ALL OVER THE PLACE
Thompsonâs search for an opponent has seen him call for a rematch with welterweight superstar Jorge Masvidal. But with the Miami nativeâs ongoing legal issues, itâs likely that matchup would require some patience on the side of âWonderboy.â And at the age of 39, waiting isnât something heâs keen to do.
During an interview with MMA Junkieâs Mike Bohn, Thompson, who recently shut down callouts from Sean Brady, assessed his options. Seemingly looking at those rising the ranks, the veteran striker named 170-pound newcomer Kevin Holland as a potential next opponent.
âAnybody ranked above, below me, I really donât care,â said Thompson. âIt doesnât matter, to be honest with you. Youâve got a lotta guys who are coming up⊠Kevin Holland, who just won his fight. I know heâs calling out Sean Brady, but heâs definitely a guy that Iâm keeping a close eye on as well because heâs moving up the rankings quick. He was great at 185, made the cut to 170 fairly easy.â
Holland rose to prominence in the Octagon in 2020 owing to a record-breaking year, which saw him collect five consecutive victories, including over Ronaldo âJacarĂ©â Souza. But after back-to-back main event losses against Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori, as well as a no contest versus Kyle Daukaus, âTrailblazerâ made a change.
Having successfully found form at welterweight with second-round finishes of Alex Oliveira and Tim Means this year, Holland is looking to take the next step towards contention. And during an interview with MMA Fightingâs Damon Martin, the names of Thompson and Nate Diaz came up.
While Holland doesnât believe either man would help him prove his championship mettle in the division, âBig Mouthâ is open to what he understandably described as âfunâ matchups.
Now Hes Telling The Boss What he wants
